THE NAZI REGIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 9

THE NAZI REGIME

DISCONTENT IN GERMANY WORKERS RESENTFUL LONGER HOURS, LESS PAY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 5. There is greater opposition to Hitler in Germany to-day than previously, but it is disorganised and divided. This is the conclusion of a special correspondent of The Times, who writes a leader-page article on German discontent. Bitter disappointment, he says, is felt after a year of almost intolerable tension. Germany hoped for a lessening of tension after the Munich agreement. Instead, there was a renewed campaign against the democracies and there were violent attacks against British politicians, as well as demands for more sacrifices in the interests of rearmament. Influences Upon Public

“ The German people are influenced,” says the correspondent, “ by Catholic and Protestant opposition to the Nazi Church policy, by the resentment of intellectuals at the subordination of art and science to political unreality, and by peasant dissatisfaction with the dragooning agricultural policy. “ Employers oppose a regime which is becoming increasingly anticapitalist, while the workers resent the destruction of the trade unions, the lowered standard of living, the shortage of certain foodstuffs, and the deterioration in the quality of clothing. . , , “Genuine party enthusiasts have been disillusioned by leaders using their position for personal gain. Exsoldiers feel that their services have been forgotten by the swashbucklers of the party formations. No Apparent Alternative “ But the widespread discontent is unorganised, because of the activities of political police. Moreover, the Government’s success in combating unemployment and the absence of any apparent alternative to Hitlerism all prevent active opposition to the regime. “ Most feel that while the foreign policy is successful, sacrifices are justified because the Government is able to contrast the failure of the former democratic regime with Hitler’s triumphs over the democracies; but as the memory of unemployment vanishes, the advantage of being employed for long hours at low pay is becoming unattractive. Conscription of Labour “ Moreover, the workmen who had been told that conditions would improve are becoming disappointed. “ Shortage of labour as a result of rearmament has compelled the Government to introduce a 60-hour week at a time when an improvement in conditions was expected; while the decree empowering the Government to conscript lahpur has proved most unpopular, actually causing bitter resentment when workers have been despatched far from their homes to places such as the Siegfried Line (Germany’s western barrier of fortifications). “ The continual State indebtedness makes increased industrial output necessary, which causes ‘increased labour productivity ’ otherwise, speeding up and longer hours.”